Upper South

February, 2006
Regional Report

Web Finds

Resource Guide for Organic Insect and Disease Management
Confused by the claims of different products for organic pest control? Many of the products available, especially the newer ones, have not been tested extensively and what research there is has not been made widely available. The Resource Guide for Organic Insect and Disease Management, was designed to meet this need for farmers, but the information is useful to anyone interested in the subject. The guide is divided into three sections. The first one provides cultural information and management practices for a number of vegetable crops. The second section is a set of factsheets about specific materials that can be used in organic systems and includes information on how each is made, how it works, types of pests controlled, application guidelines, and environmental impact. The last section is an appendix with useful information about additional practices and resources.

Clever Gardening Technique

Shorter Paper White Narcissus
Recent research at Cornell University has reinforced the folk wisdom that alcohol makes for compact paper white narcissus. Though the fragrance of paper whites is wonderful, their tall, floppy growth is not. To grow plants that are one-third shorter than normal, plant them in gravel, marbles, or however you normally do. Add water so that it just reaches the base of the bulbs. In about a week, when the roots are growing and the green shoots are about 1 to 2 inches tall, pour off the water in the container. Replace it with a 5 percent alcohol solution. For example, that would be 1 part of gin, vodka, whiskey, rum, or tequila (no beer or wine) to 7 parts water. Alternatively, rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) can be used, combining 1 part rubbing alcohol to 10 parts water. Continue watering with an alcohol solution as the narcissus grow and bloom.